Online Learners and Their Self-Disclosure Preferences

Abstract

To understand and identify information-sharing preferences among online students, a US survey collected data from university students. Specifically, this study analyzes students’ information disclosure preferences and to what extent demographics influence a student’s willingness to disclose personal information. This study also examines whether or not students feel more comfortable sharing information with specific user groups, such as teachers, teachers’ assistants (TAs), classmates, or friends. While using the communication privacy management theory as a theoretical framework, it was found that graduate students were significantly more likely than undergraduate students to share information with many different groups. Specifically, graduate students disclosed more information to teachers, classmates, group-members, and the TA group when compared to undergraduate students. In addition, graduate students were more likely than undergraduate students to share specific categories of information, including work-related information and contact information. These results provide important insights into how graduate students and undergraduate students interact within online learning environments.